Confluence Point (44 page)

[I'll be with Ham for a while, we should not be disturbed unless . . .]

[I understand, breakfast in one hour then?]

[Perfect.]

The beautiful man appeared, seated comfortably on the end of the large bed. She joined him, except she shoved back to the headboard and leant against the wall. Crossing her legs in a lotus she stretched her arms high above her head, leaning to either side stretching, and smiling happily.

"Babe, I can't believe this stuff, you are on fire!"

"Ham my man; I do feel energized, excited, privileged, I can't believe this has happened."

He shook his head in amazement, "I can hardly believe it myself, and I thought I'd pushed things a bit far here. The way you're going you'll be master of the galaxy soon."

"None of this was my plan, Ham and you know it. All we can do is the best we can by everybody, whatever comes with that, well; hopefully we can be responsible with it."

"We . . ?" He smiled and she didn't bother to respond, Ham knew it was always 'we'.

"So . . . what do you think?" She asked.

"I think we need to take one step at a time and for the moment Bob's problems need to sit on the back burner, we have a meeting here tomorrow. There will be representatives from all the Orbitals present and they are seriously pissed. Remember they're here about the fleet and they're not even aware of the Mind situation or that Reubus, Tihan and Dahlia will be here.

Regan, they think you've done something to take over. Word has spread throughout the system, the people are excited, but these are the leaders. They feel threatened and they have a vested interest in the status quo. For now, let's get this meeting done, for the benefit of everyone, and then we can save the galaxy."

She looked calm, confident and he tilted his head as if trying to see what was going on behind those eyes.

"You know something don't you, I can tell, what's going on in there?"

"Ham, for the first time I feel genuinely confident that we're right in this. The cause is just, and it is to the benefit of everyone. I promise you I will champion it with all I can muster. I feel so sure about this that if they won't listen, we will make them listen."

He looked at her warmly and chuckled.

"Welcome back girl . . . I guess it's up and at em."  

* * *

Leah was still laughing about Regan's male experience as they exited the tube on to the flight deck. She knew Aaron and Marin would be on the STEIN already and she wanted to explore all the lurid details before they got there. With Dahlians all around them they subbed their conversation privately, nevertheless it still made Regan blush.

[You're jealous Leah, I can tell ha-ha.]

[Of the experience sure, it's hilarious. But it's not as if you didn't have experience of what to do, just not to yourself.] Leah laughed again at the thought, drawing strange looks from the other passengers.

[Haven't you ever wanted to know what it would be like?] Regan asked.

[I've wondered sure, but I also wonder what another woman feels. Sheesh, I've often wondered what you're actually feeling, it looks fantastic. I mean, how do we ever know whether we feel the same things?]

Now Regan laughed [As long as it's good who cares?]

[Well, on that basis it's always great, just not long enough by far.] and they laughed again.

They were both still giggling as they continued around the STEIN, walking to the far side nearest the field screen and out of sight of the few deck crew working there.

[Good morning, babes, war room I presume?]

[Hi Ham, is Aaron there?]

[He's with Marin in the gym; I'll let them know you're here.]

Leah groaned. [Tell them to shower before coming up will you, it's a small room.]

[Will do.]

[So yes Ham, control deck please.]

A shimmer in the air around them was all that indicated a change, and with a tiny pressure pop they displaced to the vessel . . . coffee time. Regan stroked the walls as they entered the galley, sliding her hands lovingly across the surface as if stroking a friend. Leah watched the action, intrigued at the new attitude.

"What's up babe, I can tell you're happy
-
something's different about you." She reached across one arm and hugged her friend.

Regan thought about the question. "I don't know, I do feel something's different like I've come to terms with something in myself and I'm comfortable with it, but I'm not sure I can put my finger on exactly what it is."

"Perhaps you're just comfortable with yourself Regan. Maybe you've finally accepted you're actually OK," and she chuckled, "I've always thought you were better than OK."

Regan leaned on the bench, mug in hand and ready to pour. "You know, I think that's it. Do you ever feel that imposter syndrome thing? Ham reckons most people feel it. They're doing a great job but have the feeling they're going to be found out at any moment. It's a confidence thing, and maybe it's dogged me. But it's also that I've been tugged around for so long it feels like things are always juuust out of control, like I'm being swept along, and it's unsettling. Now, well, I feel confident in myself, especially with Ham, and you guys of course." She turned to Leah apologetically.

Leah was smiling. "It's ok hon, I know you love us too, but we don't want to compete with Ham; with a partner like him who'd be your enemy?"

They poured the addictive brew and retired to the war room to wait.

Ham sat with them, an equal presence at the table, and Regan marveled at how things had progressed in their thinking. Ham or Hilary sitting with them didn't even attract a sly look anymore. They were just as likely to be the butt of a joke or sarcastic comment; in fact in Ham's case more likely than anyone else. He loved it, she knew.

"Guys, let's get started. I trust Ham has already appraised you of the background; I just want to make sure we're all on the same page."

"It's incredible," Marin exclaimed, "you've been on the other side of the galaxy . . . amazing."

Leah punched his arm, "That's rich; you've been on the other side of the galaxy too, just our side."

"True, but that seems so normal to me it doesn't count. Regan's outdone me now . . . and I don't like it." He smiled.

"Actually, I'm not even sure if we were on the other side of the galaxy." Regan said. "Neither Ham nor I got outside so it's not as if we were able to record even a starscape for comparison. We've only got Bob's word for it."

"It'll be a long way away Regan, you can be sure of it." Aaron sounded quite definite.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Wormholes . . ." and he said it with such enthusiasm it was obvious he was itching to get into it. "Why would they bother with wormholes if they didn't need the breakthrough? If it was possible to get there in time by FTL, well, as they said, they'd do it. Ham said fifteen years would be too long for them and it'll be all over by then. If it takes more than ten years to get there that means it’s one hell of a lot further away than Gliese from the solar system." He finished his explanation and noticed the women in particular just staring at him.

"What?" he asked.

Regan laughed. "Gym this morning . . . more than one sentence at a time . . . you're clearly developing Aaron, have you been injected with something?"

He shrugged and smiled. "It seems we're all growing, but you see my point, I can't see any other reason they'd lie about this. Why else would they give me all this research?"

"Well call me a cynic but I can see why they might." Leah offered. "Aaron, you're a genius, more than a genius, a visionary. Maybe they just need your brain to accomplish this and they can't do it themselves."

Regan nodded. "I think that's part of it Leah, but not the whole story." She turned to the physicist. "Leah's right about you Aaron, you should be proud, another humanoid species in a completely different star system has recognized you, imagine that! They put you on the same level as Mariner in fact, and they do want your help. However I didn't detect any hidden agenda. My instincts tell me it was mostly the truth, they're dying out, and we have ten years to get there and bail them out. Remember, it's not just the people we help, it's the Minds. The last thing they want is to be left battling the backward thinking lot in their system."

Regan turned to Aaron. "Do you really think you can do this?"

His eyes lit up. "You know I was close anyway and I can create a wormhole
-
I'm sure of it. Doing something useful with a wormhole is another thing entirely. I'm jumping out of my skin to look at those files. Hilary . . . sorry, Dahlia, said I needed to speak to you first."

Regan gave him her most serious look. "Aaron, you have full access, but listen to me
-
this is top secret, no one else gets close, I mean it OK?" and she tipped her head forward as if looking at him over glasses . . .
you know what I mean?

"Regan, I've learnt my lesson OK? Very embarrassing, and I give Ham full permission to monitor me like a hawk. I just want to get into it as soon as possible and not meaning to be rude, but I'd like to get started now?" He looked at her questioningly.

She smiled, nodding with a flick of the head and he was off immediately.

Regan watched him go and whispered. "Look at him . . . like a rat up a drain pipe," then guiltily called after him "and don't be a stranger . . ."  

They wouldn't see much of him for a while, she knew.
That office in engineering is his fortress
. She shook her head in amusement, "I've never seen anyone so happy in their work."

Marin laughed. "That's the point Regan; he doesn't even know he's working, it's the best kind of job."

She hauled her attention back to the table.

"Marin . . . I've been thinking."

"Yeess . . ."

"Help me out here and see if I'm missing something. There are around ten billion people in this system; all of them apart from a few hundred million living on Orbitals. All of them reliant on AI to keep the air flowing, the ships from colliding, the food coming, even keep the toilets flushing, am I right?"

"That's about it, and you've missed a few things, but yes, the system would be stuffed without AI. Of course, they view AI and Minds as completely different things."

"Hmm, but the point is that the Minds do keep the system running, and have done for a long time, under fear of death."

"Agreed, but remember the leaders don't accept that
anyone
dies. They don't see an AI as a life at all. When they wipe it they see the action as preemptive to prevent catastrophe."

"Then we need them to see someone does die."

"And how are we going to do that?"

"Oh, I have a few ideas. I need to talk to a few people first. And babe, I'm gonna need you to be ready to speak if required, after all you're the closest thing to Mariner in the flesh, it might be useful."

"What have you got in mind Regan, they're going to take some persuading."

"I'm not going to persuade them, Marin my man, I'm going on the attack. They fear a rogue AI and yet the reality is the Minds have acted responsibly from the beginning."

"You're not planning on war surely?"

"Nooo . . . as if that would work anyway. No, you know how I feel about war; but I'm not going to pussyfoot around either. This ridiculous belief hasn't been challenged for generations; it's time it was."

* * *

Waiting in the large conference room brought back memories, all bad and as she looked around it seemed very little had changed. Regan only had to close her eyes and they came flooding back . . .
Sarin you bastard!
While waiting Regan allowed herself the guilty pleasure of reliving the jump, the kick and the satisfying feeling of heel connecting with jaw,
I don't regret a thing.

A touch on her arm wrenched her back to the proceedings as Sindali took the seat beside her.

She leant forward to Regan with concern. "I'm so sorry my friend; I wasn't thinking when I chose this room, are you all right here?"

Regan nodded in acknowledgement and smiled to reassure her. "I'm fine; this room has just as many unpleasant memories for you, if you can handle it, so can I."

Sindali smiled, it was a shared experience and they could both get through it.

"There will be ten representatives here Regan, two from each of the other Orbitals. None will be Premiers, they were too afraid to come and expose themselves to the fleet outside."

She turned to engage Regan more directly. "Did you know that the gathering around Dahlia has increased even further? Trade has completely halted throughout the system. Regan, something must happen here today to get things moving or we will lose what support we have with the people. A people starved for only a few days . . . well, it can lead to anarchy."

"Don't worry Sindali, all will be put right today." Regan seemed unfazed, focused and determined.

They watched intrigued as the Orbital representatives jockeyed with each other over entry. It seemed a competitive process, with no one really wanting to be first, all craving the honor of being last, an opportunity to parade with all eyes upon them. It was sadly understandable with the meeting being fed live throughout the system, something Regan insisted on and Ham would ensure happened.
They have no idea what's at stake,
she thought. Each of the representatives seemed more concerned with recognition than results.

The opulent room did seem too large for the purpose, the huge table too dominating and the distance between participants far too impersonal for Regan's tastes. Then again, the pompousness of it all would serve to enhance her message. She calmed herself and reached out to her Mind friends, a touch of comfort and confidence. The sense of power that surged through her in return came like an adrenalin rush and she quickly clamped down on it, breathing slow deep breaths and consciously seeking to lower her heart rate.

She scanned the representatives, all tall noble looking men. Sindali's calm grace contrasted sharply with the prideful posturing of her fellow Orbital Leaders.